Wilhoit announces floodplain certification

June 16, 2004

By Tony Parra

Portales Economic Development Manager Darla Wilhoit earned certification as Floodplain Manager, which Wilhoit said is one of the factors which helps keep flood insurance rates low for Portales.
The announcement was made during the city council meeting on Tuesday. Wilhoit said previous city inspector Doug Rapp was also a certified floodplain manager. Rapp resigned to take a position as state inspector in late January.
“(Certification) will allow the city to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Wilhoit said. “The city has been participating in it for the last two to three years. The program works on a rating system through a series of tasks and plans related to flood improvements in the city.”
Wilhoit said there are 10 classes in the rating system and the city can earn points through flood improvements in Portales. Movement to a higher class results in a percentage discount in the flood insurance for home owners in Portales, according to Wilhoit.
“It takes long-term planning to be able to move up in class,” Wilhoit said. “My goal is to within one to three years put in place bigger action plans and expand foodplain management to accumulate points and receive (insurance) discounts.”
Wilhoit also confirmed the winner of a street improvement bid is K. Barnett and Sons, Inc. from Clovis with a bid of $331,860.48. Lipham Construction Co., Inc. of Hereford, Texas had a lower bid of $326,446.79. However, state regulations require a bid from a non-resident company must be five percent less than the state resident company’s bid, according to Wilhoit.
Wilhoit said the next step is to send a notice of award to K. Barnett and Sons Inc. and a formal letter to Lipham notifying the company did not receive the bid.
“We have to execute the contract and hold a pre-construction conference,” Wilhoit said. “Construction will commence within 10 days of execution of the contract.”